Immediate improvements in emotion and stress following participation in aerobics, circuit training and Tai Chi

The aim of this field study was to examine pre- to post-exercise changes in emotions and stress and differences between three exercise activities using a pre and post-exercise activity repeated measures design. Volunteer participants (N=93) engaged in aerobics, circuit training, or Tai Chi were tested at exercise locations using the Tension and Effort Stress Inventory (TESI) and a Visual Analogue Scale for hedonic tone. All three activities produced significant reductions in anxiety, anger, sullenness, resentment and tension stress, anda significant increase in hedonic tone. There were no significant differences in the effects of different types of exercise on emotions or stress, apart from circuit trainers scoring higher on provocativeness than Tai Chi participants. Despite the type of exercise performed, activity produced the same immediate benefits in emotional state, in stress reduction, and improved hedonic tone. The improvement in hedonic tone was due solely to significant decreases in unpleasant emotions.